Steve Find

 

Back when the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin printed the births of local residents, grandchildren, My Uncle Dave and Aunt Dorothy got a notice in the UB when their son, Stan and his wife, Shirley gave birth to daughter, Leigh Kara Barer.  

Today, Leigh is married and has a grown son. 

Steve, my brother, has found various historical notes while subscribing to the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin archives. 

Stan Barer Was Sworn In By Supreme Court Justice

 I just learned this today (May 29th, 2026).  My cousin Stan was sworn in to the bar by legendary Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas. This is from an article in the Union-Bulletin archives, sometime in the early 1960s. 

 Douglas was a graduate of Whitman College in Walla Walla, while Stan graduated from Walla Walla High School before going on to the University Of Washington.  Steve posted this in the Barer Family Group on Facebook. Stan, himself, would have an amazing career in Politics, law, and business.

Dean Of Area's Political Columnists--Joel Connolly Dies

 

 

I was shocked yesterday (Thursday, April 16th, 2026) to read about the passing of former Seattle PI political columnist and current blogger, Joel Connolly.  

For the past 5 years, I've been reading Joel's work in the collaborative blog, Post Alley.   Post Alley features blogs from several writers, who talk about Seattle topics, mostly in politics.  Connolly's work, I felt was the most interesting and enjoyable to read. 

In addition, his writing appeared in the Cascadia Advocate, a blog put out by the Northwest Progressive Institute.   Many of his writings appeared in both. 

I became a regular reader after Connolly wrote a beautiful post about my cousin, Stan Barer, which you can read by clicking here.

Connolly's last column for Post Alley was published on the day of his death.

Tributes to Connolly have come from both sides of the area's political spectrum.  He will be truly missed. 

Dead By Sunset--A Review

Dead By Sunset was recommended by my cousin, Burl, telling me the victim was a partner in his brother Stan's law firm.  

The book was written by the late Ann Rule, a true crime author and resident of the Seattle area.  It is a page turner. A 400 plus page book that is almost impossible to put down. 

It tells the story of the murder of Cheryl Keeton.  She was found in a van on the Sunset Highway in Portland.  Keeton worked at the Portland branch office of Garvey, Shubert, and Barer (Now, Foster Garvey).  Though she was of humble beginnings, she was a brilliant attorney.

Her husband, Brad Cunningham, was equally brilliant.  As the couple was going through a very nasty divorce, Cunningham is an immediate suspect.  However, because, he was able to put on a calm demeanor and an arresting (no pun intended) charm, and his propensity to move to different locations, it took years before there could even be an arrest, let alone a conviction.  

Cunningham had multiple marriages and a number of children, but it was the three sons of Cheryl Keeton that he really became the subject of a custody fight.  

The book was eventually adapted to a mini-series.  

The action takes place in the 80s and 90s, but except for the lack of smart phones and computers, it is still readable today. 

Cousin Stan And Alta Barer Contribute To University Of Washingon Law School

Nearly three years after Cousin Stan Barer's death, and five years after wife, Alta's passing.  The couple is making news again.

Reports are that the couple's estate has endowed the University of Washington one of its largest contributions ever.  The amount contributed to its law school reported to be 45 million dollars. 

In 2008, Stan and Alta made news 16 years ago, with a donation to the law school to start the Barer Institute for Law and Global Human Services. This program has opened law school up to deserving students, many in undeveloped countries.  

Stan Barer was an attorney, political consultant, Senate administrative assistant, shipping executive and community philanthropist.  Alta, was a fellow community activist and philanthropist. 

Clearly, the contributions that the couple have made to the area and around the world will bring benefits for generations to come. 

Barer's Celebrate Anniversary

The Purple Barer is a special wine created Seattle area Restauranteur Russell Lowell to honor my cousin Stan Barer, who passed away in December of 2021.  

Stan and Russell were longtime fishing buddies 

The wine brand is only available for purchase at Russell's Restaurant and Loft, owned by Lowell.

Deb and I celebrated our 28th anniversary last night (Saturday, July 8th, 2023) at the Bothell Restaurant, where we sampled the wine, which was excellent and purchased a bottle, shown above.

Remembering Lance Henderson

 

The above picture was sent to me by Lance Henderson. 

 Lance was a Walla Walla guy who was a hard core Conservative.  He was a rising star in the Republican party and in the 1980s, he created the Blue Mountain Review, a paper espousing Conservative viewpoints.  He would go on to become executive director of the Washington State Republican Party for a while.   Lance's father, Jim, was a Walla Walla City Councilman.

Lance and I became friends on Facebook although we had not met one another in person.  We consistently had back and Forths on various issues.  At the time, I was on the state Democratic Committee. We were truly political opposites. 

Lance and I did talk by telephone once.  When my cousin Stan Barer died, he sent me a post on a well known political blog about him. 

A little over a year ago, I went on Facebook to find that Lance had passed away suddenly.  He was a few years younger than me, but had  what we now call a "cardiac episode" while walking in downtown Walla Walla and could not get help in time.  

His passing made me respect how we formed an amazing friendship over our opposite world views without compromising our principles. .

Remembering Cousin Stan Barer

 Stan Barer died one year ago today.  You can read a little about his legacy by clicking here.

New Wine Honor's Stan Barer Memory

Seattle area restauranteur Russell Lowell has announced a new wine label in honor of his fishing buddy and my cousin, Stan Barer.  In the above article by feature writer Patti Payne in the Puget Sound Business Journal, Lowell announced the creation of "The Purple Barer".  The wine brand was created from Cabernet Sauvignon from Cooper Wine Company.

The Purple Barer is only available at Lowell's Bothell restaurant and sells for $120. 
 

UB Columnist Drops Names Of Celebrities With Walla Walla Ties

 A big thank you to retired Union-Bulletin columnist Annie Charnley Eveland for somehow working me, the blog, and my Old Walla Walla Radio Group facebook page along with famous Walla Wallans and Whitman graduates like Adam West and Kirby Grant (pictured in character, above), who played the 1950s action TV character, Sky King into her latest column. 

Also mentioned in the article was Patrick Page, who is married to the effervescent TV host, Paige Davis, A Team TV star, Dirk Benedict and some cousins that I admire, Burl Barer, Stan Barer, Jan Barer Curran, Lee Goldberg, and Tod Goldberg.  

Lee and Tod did not grow up in Walla Walla but were annual summer visitors in their childhood. 

You can the article by clicking here.

Celebrating The Life Of Stan Barer

We celebrated the life of cousin Stan Barer, yesterday.  Stan passed away last December.  The speakers included Senator Maria Cantwell

Former Massachusetts senator and Former secretary of state John Kerry sent a video message

Stan Barer Recognized By The Times

At the end of every year, The Seattle Times does a review of deaths of celebrities, local leaders, and other newsmakers during that year. 

I was pleasantly surprised and honored to see that my cousin Stan Barer made the list.

Stan is noted for his contributions in writing the Civil Rights Act of 1964, when he worked on the staff of Senator Warren Magnuson and also for his contributions to helping reopen trade between the US and China.

Stan passed away on December 13th after a long battle with cancer.

UW Law alumni tribute to Stan Barer '63

An amazing tribute to Stanley H. Barer, 1939-2021.

Stan Barer Dies

 We lost Stan Monday night.  He was 82.   He had been fighting cancer for well over a decade, seemingly winning every battle.  The last couple years were very tough as he lost his wife, Alta to cancer in 2019 and son, Aaron in 2020.

Stan was my cousin, my grandfather and his father were brothers.  Stan was brother to Burl and Jan.  We all grew up in Walla Walla.  Stan attended Green Park School and graduated from Walla Walla High School (Wa-Hi).

Stan left Walla Walla to go to the University of Washington.  After finishing law school, he joined the staff of Senator Warren Magnuson.  After playing a big part in writing the Civil Rights Act of 1964, he would go on to become the senator's administrative assistant.  

Over lunch many years ago, Stan told me how he felt there was underlying discrimination growing up as he felt that many clubs had not picked him for membership because of his Jewish faith.  That apparently galvanized his commitment to civil rights. 

Stan became a Washington insider.  He was in the "kitchen cabinet" of several presidents.  He played a part in an historic trade deal with China.  He was written up in the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin as an "expert on export".

Stan would go on to practice law in Seattle for several years in a huge firm known as Garvey, Shubert, And Barer.  He would also became part of the ownership group of Saltchuk Resources, which ran several local shipping companies including Totem Ocean Trailer Express and Foss 

With his wife, Alta, Stan became an active donor in the arts community, as well as many charity causes.  His donation to the University Of Washington allowed more students from around the world to attend. 

Stan also served on the University Of Washington Board Of Regents.  

Just last September, it was announced that Stan had won the Gates Volunteer Service Award.  

It seems silly, but one of my favorite memories of Stan was when we were going out for dinner with his mom, my Aunt Dorothy.  Stan and Alta had come to meet my then fiance, now my wife.  Stan and I were sitting on the couch dipping crackers into chopped liver at my aunt's apartment. On a more serious note, he was a rock of comfort in the deaths of both of my parents.  

A private service will be held this week with Stan's immediate family.  A celebration of life for Stan's large circle of family and friends will be announced at a later date

Stan will really be missed.

Stan Barer, '63, Gates Volunteer Service Award 2021

Congratulation to Stan for winning the Gates Volunteer Service Award. 

 I learned quite a bit about our family's history just with this video.  

Seattle Times Archives--1969 Stan Barer Named Magnuson Administrative Assistant

 

First, an apology for the blurry news print.  As previously mentioned, our family has played a significant part in Seattle and Washington history.  I have been combing through the Seattle Times  archives, which are less than transferable.  Perhaps, by design. 

  Stan Barer, in 1969 was named Administrative Assistant for Washington Senator Warren Magnuson.  

Stan had previously had experience on the senators staff and was mentioned prominently in Shelby Scates Magnuson biography. 

Remembering Aaron J Barer, Sr

Aunt Carol was calling on the cell as I was about to leave work, Wednesday.  We stay in touch, so it was no big deal.  When she asked how I was doing, though, I knew something wasn't right.
Aaron Barer, my cousin Stan's son had died.  It was a shock, but not really a surprise, I had last  seen him at his mother's memorial service last June.  I knew that beyond his despair of losing his Mom, he was not well.
I remember Aaron as a youngster, he was a cute kid with brown hair mixed with some blond streaks from his mother.  He was a happy and articulate young boy.  Since moving to the Seattle area, I would see him at family events.
Aaron's first cousins, Lee and Tod have done a good job profiling Aaron in their posts on Facebook.
Aaron and I talked to each other on social media.  He eventually became a no show at family gatherings.
Aaron Barer, Sr was 42.

Burl Interviews Brother Stan

Burl Barer interviewed his brother, Stan on the subject of US trade with China on this edition of True Crime Uncensored.  Click Here.

Meeting Washington Icon

At Alta Barer's memorial, there was a man that I could not wait to meet.  Dan Evans was governor of Washington from 1964 to 1976, basically, from when I was in 1st grade almost through my freshman year at WSU.  

He is a Republican and I'm a Democrat. I always wanted to see him defeated.  After 3 terms, he declined to run for a 4th term.

He would later serve a US Senator, replacing the iconic Scoop Jackson after his sudden passing.

Time passes and I now consider Evans one of our state's greatest public servants.  By meeting him, I later realize that I have met or seen in person, every person who has served as Washington governor during my 62 year lifetime.   I thought for a while that I had met every US Senator from Washington that served during my life, but later remembered that I had not met the late Brock Adams, who served one term.  Adams, ironically, was once law partners with my cousin, Stan Barer.

Alta Barer Honored At Fairmont

Former KING 5 TV anchor  and Stan Barer family friend Jean Enersen, pictured above, was emcee at a beautiful tribute to my late cousin, Alta Barer.  Alta, who was married to my cousin Stan, passed away last month after a long, but quiet, battle with cancer.
The service began with an incredible singing performance by the Puget Sound Company. Speakers included, University Of Washington President Ana Marie Cauce, Washington Senator Maria Cantwell, Former Governor and later US Ambassador to China, Gary Locke, and Changdong Xu, chairman of the WRSEA.
Both my brothers and their wives were among the guests.  Also attending were my cousin Lee Goldberg and his sister, Karen Dinino, from Los Angeles.
The Tribute took place at the Fairmont in Downtown Seattle.